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May 2008
Researcher announces ethanol findings; ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ seminar highlights health effects
David Kittelson
The results of a 13-month study led by David Kittelson, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, show that E20—a blend of fuel containing 80 percent gasoline and 20 percent ethanol—has no negative impact on the drivability and maintenance of late-model cars and trucks.
“The study did not reveal any difference that might be associated with the use of E20 on normal on-road vehicles,” said Kittelson, a lead investigator in the Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) in Minnesota study. This should prove helpful for the state’s interest in changing fuel regulations.”
The more commonly used fuel blend of ethanol and gasoline in the United States is E10, which contains 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. Minnesota has requested a waiver to allow E20 to be used in the state.
Results of the study will now be presented to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to officially determine E20’s suitability for on-road vehicles. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Council of Great Lakes Governors, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and the Renewable Fuels Association sponsored the study. Work was done in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The University of Minnesota’s Fleet Services provided all cars for the study.
In other news, the GHG study held its third seminar on April 16. The study is investigating public policy and technology options for reducing greenhouse gases emitted from the transportation sector in Minnesota. CTS received an appropriation from the legislature last summer to conduct the study. (See www.cts.umn.edu/Research/Featured /GreenhouseGas/index.html.)
Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, reported on the connection between global warming and increased pollution-related deaths. He advocated combining different types of renewable power to create a sizeable pool of safe energy for the world to draw from. For example, he predicted using wind-battery and electric vehicles could cut U.S. CO2 levels 25.5 percent, and solar-battery electric vehicles could reduce levels another 23.4 percent. He estimated that the use of battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles powered by clean renewables would eliminate 10,000 to 20,000 U.S. air pollution deaths each year.
The final study seminar will be held May 20, serving double duty as the CTS Spring Luncheon at the 19th Annual CTS Transportation Research Conference.
(Ethanol findings from the University of Minnesota eNews, April 17, 2008.)